Beverage container

ABSTRACT

The invention comprises a beverage container. Self-skinning, high density foam is molded around and envelopes a deformable plastic bottle. The Self-skinning, high-density foam is molded into any desired shape, such as the shape of an athletic shoe. The skin of the beverage container bears indicia reminiscent of the object that the beverage container is intended to represent. The neck of the bottle extends through the foam envelope, allowing access to the interior volume of the bottle for filling or for consuming the beverage.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 60/511,265 filed Oct. 14, 2003.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention is a beverage container having integral molded foaminsulation. The molded foam of the insulation may be formed into anypre-selected shape, such as the shape of a shoe.

2. Description of the Related Art

Beverage containers are well known in the art, including beveragecontainers formed of a plastic. Beverage containers having foaminsulation also are known in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a beverage container featuring an integral molded layerof foam insulation. The molded layer of foam insulation has apre-selected shape, such as the shape of an athletic shoe. The beveragecontainer therefore assumes the external appearance of the shoe or otherpre-selected shape.

The outer surface of the foam layer of the beverage container may bearindicia indicative of the shape represented by the molded foam layer,such as markings reminiscent of a shoe.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the beverage container of the Invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the beverage container of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the beverage container.

FIG. 4 is a cross section of the beverage container of the Invention.

FIG. 5 is a detail view of the cap of the beverage container.

FIG. 6 is a first alternative embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a second alternative embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a third alternative embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a fourth alternative embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a fifth alternative embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the beverage container 2 of theInvention. In the embodiment illustrated by FIG. 1, the beveragecontainer 2 is molded in the shape of a shoe 4, such as an athleticshoe. The shoe 4 features a heel 6, toe 8 and upper 10 similar inappearance to an actual shoe. Indicia 12 may appear on shoe 4 toidentify a brand of athletic shoe, brand of beverage, to convey anyother information, or to be purely decorative. A removable cap 14 allowsaccess to the interior of the beverage container 2 for cleaning,filling, or for any other purpose. The cap 14 may be equipped with aconventional nipple closure 16 to allow the user to drink from thebeverage container 2 without removing the cap 14.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the beverage container 2. The beveragecontainer is in the shape of shoe 4, featuring heel 6, toe 8 and upper10. Indicia 12 appear on beverage container 2, as does cap 14 withnipple closure 16.

FIG. 3 is a top view of beverage container 2 with the beverage containerbeing in the shape of shoe 4. FIG. 3 shows the location of section lineA-A.

FIG. 4 is a cross section of beverage container on section line A-A ofFIG. 3. Bottle 18 appears in shoe 4. Bottle 18 may be a conventionalcylindrical bottle composed of resilient molded plastic or may be of anyother suitable material, such as aluminum. Bottle 18 defines an interiorvolume 20 and has an outside bottle surface 21. Beverage 22 is containedin the interior volume 20 of bottle 18.

Self-skinning high density molded foam 24 is molded around outsidebottle surface 21. To produce beverage container 2, a suitable bottle 18is placed in a mold prepared for the purpose. An interior volume of themold defines a desired shape, such as the shoe 4 of FIG. 4.Self-skinning, high density foam 24 is injected into the mold usingtechniques well known in the art of forming foam 24. The foam 24 expandsto conform to the space defined by the mold and the bottle 18,enveloping the outside surface 21 of bottle 18.

The self-skinning nature of the foam 24 causes the foam 24 to form anouter skin 26 that is relatively dense, strong and smooth, withoutsignificant pits or voids. The foam 24 of the beverage container 2 isnonetheless flexible and resilient to the touch.

Colorants may be added to the foam 24 prior to injection usingtechniques well known in the art to select a finished color of skin 26.

Bottle 18 has a neck 25 that extends from bottle 18 and communicatesthrough the outer skin 26 of foam 24. In the embodiment illustrated byFIGS. 1-4, neck extends through heel 6 of shoe 4. Neck 25 allows accessto interior volume 20 of bottle 18 for filling or for consumption ofbeverage 22. Cap 14 may releasably connect to bottle 18 using any of thetechniques known in the art to form a fluid-tight connection preventingescape of beverage 22. Examples of such releasable fluid-tightconnections include a screw connection or a snap connection.

FIG. 5 is a detail of cap 14 and nipple closure 16. Slidable nippleclosure 16 is of conventional design. When nipple closure 16 is in afirst, or closed, position shown by solid lines on FIG. 5, flow ofbeverage 22 is blocked and the beverage container 2 is fluid-tight. Whennipple closure 16 is in a second, or open, position shown by dashedlines on FIG. 5, fluid channel 28 is in fluid communication withinterior volume 20 of beverage container, allowing beverage 22 to flowthrough fluid channel 28. As the user draws beverage 22 through fluidchannel 28, a partial vacuum may occur within interior volume 20,impeding the flow of beverage 22. The resilient nature of bottle 18 andfoam 24 allows the user to compress beverage container 2, continuing theflow of beverage 22 through fluid channel 28. Alternatively, user mayplace beverage container 2 in a position in which fluid channel 28 iselevated above the surface of beverage 22 and allow make-up air to enterbottle 18 through fluid channel 28.

FIG. 6 shows a first alternative embodiment. In the alternativeembodiment of FIG. 6, neck 25 of bottle 18 extends through toe 8 of shoe4, allowing access to the interior volume 20 of bottle 18 through toe 8.FIG. 7 shows a second alternative embodiment. In FIG. 7, neck 25 ofbottle 18 extends through upper 10 of shoe 4, allowing access tointerior volume 20 of bottle 18 through upper 10.

FIG. 8 shows a third alternative embodiment. In the third alternativeembodiment, bottle 18 conforms in a predetermined manner to the desiredshape of beverage container 2. If beverage container 2 is to be in theshape of a shoe 4, as shown by FIG. 8, then bottle 18 may be formedgenerally in the shape of a shoe 4. The bottle 18 formed in the shape ofshoe 4 of FIG. 8 is of a size selected to accommodate a pre-selectedthickness of foam 24 between bottle 18 and skin 26. The thickness offoam 24 is selected to provide a desired amount of insulation and toallow molding of desired shapes and surface details of the object thatthe beverage container 2 is intended to resemble. Bottle 18 may beformed in any shape or size provided that bottle 18 does not intrudeupon the minimum space required in the mold during production to allowformation of skin 26 and to allow desired shapes and surface details tobe formed.

FIG. 9 shows a fourth alternative beverage container 2. The alternativeembodiment of FIG. 9 dispenses with bottle 18. Self-skinning, highdensity foam 24 forms both outer skin 26 and fluid-tight inner skin 30.Inner skin 30 defines interior volume 20 of beverage container 2 andholds beverage 22. Fitting 32 may be bonded to foam 24 during themolding process. Fitting 32 alternatively may be attached to foam 24using any of the techniques known in the art, including adhesives andheat or solvent welding. Fitting 32 receives cap 14 to form a fluidtight connection between interior volume 20 of beverage container 2 andnipple closure 16.

As shown by FIG. 10, an integral molded fitting 34 may be molded fromself-skinning, high density foam 24 during the molding process for foam24. Any suitable means may be used to attach cap 14 to integral moldedfitting 34, including means such as adhesives or heat welding or solventwelding that are not releasable.

In describing the above embodiments of the invention, specificterminology was selected for the sake of clarity. However, the inventionis not intended to be limited to the specific terms so selected, and itis to be understood that each specific term includes all technicalequivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similarpurpose.

1. A beverage container, the beverage container comprising: a. a bottlehaving an interior volume and an outside bottle surface; b. foam moldedto and enveloping said outside bottle surface, said foam defining anouter skin; c. said bottle having a neck, said neck extending from saidbottle through said outer skin of said foam, said neck being in fluidcommunication with said interior volume; d. a cap, said cap sealablyengaging said neck.
 2. The beverage container of claim 1 wherein saidfoam is a self-skinning, high density foam.
 3. The beverage container ofclaim 2 wherein said foam is molded to form a pre-selected shape.
 4. Thebeverage container of claim 3 wherein said outer surface of saidbeverage container bears indicia corresponding to said pre-selectedshape.
 5. The beverage container of claim 4 wherein said pre-selectedshape is of an athletic shoe, said athletic shoe having a heel, a toeand an upper.
 6. The beverage container of claim 5 wherein said neckextends through said heel of said athletic shoe.
 7. The beveragecontainer of claim 5 wherein said neck extends through said toe of saidathletic shoe.
 8. The beverage container of claim 5 wherein said neckextends through said upper of said athletic shoe.
 9. The beveragecontainer of claim 5 wherein said bottle is generally cylindrical. 10.The beverage container of claim 5 wherein said bottle is formed in apre-selected bottle shape corresponding to said pre-selected shape ofthe beverage container.
 11. The beverage container of claim 10 whereinsaid pre-selected bottle shape corresponds to the shape of an athleticshoe.
 12. The beverage container of claim 5 wherein said sealableengagement between said cap and said neck is a releasable engagement.13. The beverage container of claim 12, further comprising: a. a nippleclosure, said nipple enclosure engaging said cap b. a fluid channeldefined by said nipple closure, said fluid channel in user-selectablefluid communication with said interior volume of said bottle.
 14. Thebeverage container of claim 13, further comprising: said nipple closurehaving a first and a second position, said nipple closure when in saidfirst position sealably engaging said cap and blocking fluidcommunication between said interior volume and said fluid channel, saidnipple closure having a second position, said nipple closure when insaid second position releasing said sealable engagement with said capand allowing fluid communication between said interior volume and saidfluid channel.
 15. A beverage container, the beverage containercomprising: a. a molded self-skinning, high density foam having an outerskin and a fluid-tight inner skin, said foam being molded into apre-selected shape; b. said inner skin of said foam defining an interiorvolume of the beverage container; c. a fitting, said fitting defining anopening, said opening communicating from said interior volume of thebeverage container through said outer skin; d. a cap, said cap sealablyengaging said fitting.
 16. The beverage container of claim 15 whereinsaid shape of said beverage container is pre-selected to resemble anathletic shoe.
 17. A beverage container, the beverage containercomprising: a. a molded self-skinning, high density foam having an outerskin and a fluid-tight inner skin, said foam being molded into apre-selected shape; b. said inner skin of said foam defining an interiorvolume of the beverage container; c. said foam defining an opening, saidopening communicating from said interior volume to said outside surfaced. a cap, said cap sealably engaging said opening.
 18. The beveragecontainer of claim 18 wherein said shape of said beverage container ispre-selected to resemble an athletic shoe.